Phil Jackson frontrunner to become Lakers coach
November 11th 2012 02:49
The Zen Master could be making his comeback. On Saturday, Phil Jackson met with Los Angeles Lakers executive vice president Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak to discuss a possible return to coaching.
According to sources, they expect to talk again in a couple of days but no time frame has been set, yet.
The Lakers zeroed in on Jackson on Saturday morning and if their former head coach is amenable to a return under the right conditions, it likely would be on a two-year deal, sources told ESPNLosAngeles.com's Ramona Shelburne.
"It's Phil's job to turn down," sources said.
What those right conditions are extends beyond Jackson's health and willingness to return to coaching after retiring after the 2010-11 season. It would need to be "a philosophical match.”
Issues such as how much control over personnel decisions Jackson will want and whether he would travel to all games, same issues that were a problem during Jackson's last stint with the team.
A source close to Jackson told Broussard on Saturday: "I can't imagine this not working out. Phil's health is fine now. That's no issue at all. Phil's feisty. He gets feisty when he's ready to coach. He likes this Lakers team."
Jackson has been in touch with potential assistant coaches in the past two days, the source said.
As of Saturday, the Lakers have not spoken with reps for any other coaches.
The all-time winnings head coach in NBA championship history with 11 titles, Jackson walked away from the game after the Dallas Mavericks swept the Lakers out of the second round of the playoffs in 2010-11.
Source: ESPN.com
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